Stock-releasing device



No. 6l`0,806. Patented Sept. I3, |898. S. J. GOVER. STOCK RELEASING DEVICE.

Patented Sept. I3, |898. S. J. GOVER.

STOCK RELEASING DEVICE.

(Application led Sept. 4, 1897.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets- Shed 2.

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SAMUEL J. GOVER, OF COCKEYSVILLE, MARYLAND.

STOCK-RELEASING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 610,806, dated September 13, 1898.

Application filed September 4, 1897. Serial No. 650,609. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ 1071/077@ it may concern.'

Be it known that I, SAMUEL J. Govan, a citi` zen of the United States of America, residing at Cockeysville, in the county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stock-Releasing Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to stock-releasing ap-' paratus; and the object in view is to provide, in connection with a barn, stable, or other building, means whereby in case of a con- I'iagration the stock contained within said building may be liberated without the necessity of the operator entering the building.

The improved apparatus hereinafter described is of simple construction, reliable in operation, and will effect a great saving in valuable stock in the event of f ire.

The detailed objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the subjoined description.

The invention consists in certain novel features and details of construction, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the draw' ings, andincorporated in the claims hereto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sectional elevation of the improved stockreleasing apparatus. Fig. 2 is atop plan view of same shown extended. Fig. 3 is a transverse section. Fig. 4t is a detail section showing the operating winding-drum, (be. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the stalls, showing the releasing mechanism for freeing the animals.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a barn, stable, or other building in which it is desired to place the improved apparatus for liberating stock.

For the purpose of carrying out the present invention a track consisting of a pair of rails 2 is laid within the building, extending lon gitudinally thereof, and these rails 2 are continued or extended outside of and beyond the building a distance approximately equal to the length of the building. Upon the rails 2 is mounted a traveling platform 3, forming the liooring of a plurality of stalls 4, divided from each other by the usual partitions 5 and comprising the vertically-extending rack or front wall of the stalls G, preferably provided with openings 7 vfor ventilation and for enabling an attendant to pass feed to the animals through the fronts of the stalls. The platform 3 carries at its outer end one of the end Walls 8 `of the building, the said Wall being rigidly secured to the platform and being suitably braced With relation thereto. EX- tending along the under side of the platform 3 are parallel stringers or beams 9, and extending transversely through said beams and at equal intervals along the length thereof are shafts 10, upon the outer ends of which are mounted rollers or pulleys 1l, which rest and travel upon the rails 2 for relieving the friction of the car or platform as the saine is moved outward. The rails 2 preferably decline toward their outer ends, so that the car moves down an incline at the same time that it is withdrawn from the building.

Arranged within the building, adjacent to one of the entrance doors 12 thereof, is a windlass 13, comprising end flanges 14 and an intermediate flange 15. Extending around each portion of said iiange is acable 16, which is preferably of wire, the said cable running over an overhead pulley or drum 17. The drum 17 is journaled in suitable hangers 1S adjacent to the top of the compartment in which the stock is located, and also comprises end flanges 19` and a central flange 20. Two cables pass around the windlass 13 in opposite directions,and attheir opposite ends they pass also in opposite directions around the drum 17. A third cable 2l extends around the remaining portion of the drum 17, one end of said cable connecting to an upright or post 22 at one end of the stalls and the remaining end of the cable attaching to the end wall S at the opposite end of the stalls. Connected to the windlass 13 upon the outside of the building is a removable crank 23, by means of which the windlass may be turned. By turning said windlass in one direction the platform or car is drawn into the building and by reversing the direction of ro IOO tation of said windlass the car is moved in an opposite direction and extends practically its entire length outside of the building.

In order to release the animals from their stalls the following mechanism is employed: The partitions 5 are provided with openings 24, arranged in longitudinal alinement, and extending through said openings is a common operating-rod 25, the same extending the entire length of the platform or car, so that it maybe operated from either end thereof. Between each pair of partitions 5 the rod 25 is provided withacurved offset or arm 26, the end of which is reduced to form a tenon 27, adapted to enter a socket 28 in a bracket 29, having a dovetailed connection with a bearing-plate 30, secured to the front wall of the feed-trough. The bearing-plate 30 is provided with a longitudinal recess receiving an arm of the bracket 29. The arms 26 are held in engagement with the brackets 29 by one or more spiral springs 3l,interposed between the partitions 5, and pins or projections 32 on the operating-rod 25. Cam-levers 33 may be employed for locking the rod 25 against accidental reciprocation.

At one end of the row of stalls and outside of the last or terminal stall is arranged a lever 35 for reciprocating the rod 25. This lever bears at one end against the end partition of the stalls and connects pivotally intermediate its ends to the end of the rod 25, the opposite end of said lever normally resting between a pair of pins or projections 36, which maintains the arms 26 in proper relation to the brackets 29. Two of such levers may be employed', one at each end of the rod 25, so that by operating one of said levers the rod 25 may be reciprocated in the proper direction for breaking the engagement between the arms 26 and brackets 29. time the rod may be partially rotated for dropping the arms 26, so as to allow the halters or attaching means of the animals to drop from the arms 25, thus simultaneously releasing all of the animals. This may be done either before or after the car is moved out of the building.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided an extremely simple and effective apparatus for removing animals from a burning building and releasing 'ghe same from their several stalls in case of It will be apparent that various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacriiicing any of the advantages of the invention.

At the same Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with a stable, of a car comprising a platform and a series of vertical partitions forming stalls, said car having an end wall forming one of the walls of the stable, fastening devices for securing animals in the stalls, said fastening devices being mounted on and carried by the car, whereby the animals may be carried out of the stable without releasing them from their stalls, operating mechanism mounted on Vthe stable and connected with the car and arranged to be operated from the exterior of the stable so that the entire series of stalls and their contents may be carried out of the stable without entering the same, and means for simultaneously releasing the animals from the stalls, such means being independent of the operating mechanism for moving the car, substantially as described.

2. In stock-releasing apparatus, the combination with a building having a track arranged within and without the same, of a platform or car mounted upo'n rollers moving on said track, stalls on said car or platform, a wall at one end of the series of stalls forming the end wall of the building, posts extending upwardly from each end of the platform or car, an overhead pulley or drum, a cable attached to one post and extending around the overheadpulley or drum and connected to the opposite post, and a windlass for rotating said overhead pulley or drum, all arranged for joint operation substantially as described.

3. The combination with a building, of a car` provided with a series of stalls, means for moving the car into and out of the building for simultaneouslyremoving the animals occupying the stalls, a series of plates 30 provided with recesses, the brackets 29 having arms secured in the recesses of the plates, a spring actuated rod 25 disposed transversely of the series of stalls and mounted in suitable guides, said rod being provided with arms arranged to engage the said brackets, the cam-lever 33 engaging the rod and locking the same against accidental movement, and means for operating the rod, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL J. GOVER.

Witnesses:

PHILIP E. FRANTZ, H. E. BARTLEsoN.

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